News

Professor Todd Berger Joins the American Bar Association Law Student Podcast as Faculty Host

Professor Todd Berger, director of advocacy programs at Syracuse University College of Law, has joined the American Bar Association’s Law Student Podcast, part of the Legal Talk network of podcasts, as the faculty host. He will work with the student hosts, Chay Rodriguez of John Marshall School of Law and Leah Haberman of Columbia Law School, to develop topics, identify guests to interview, deliver each episode’s introduction, and engage with the student hosts in a discussion.

“Podcasting is an effective way to educate students and others about current law topics by bringing together expert voices,” says Berger. “And in a turn of the tables, it’s the law students asking the questions!”

Legal Talk Network produces and releases the Law Student Podcast monthly. The most recent episode is here.

“By reformatting the show to foster a true team dynamic, we aim to better serve our listeners by tapping into a broader perspective and developing a more consistent, long-term voice,” said “ABA Law Student Podcast” Producer Evan Dicharry. He conceived the new format and developed it with the Editorial team at ABA’s Law Student Division. 

Professor Berger teaches a course “Podcasting for Lawyers and Law Students” each spring semester.

The ABA Law Student Podcast can be found online or at Apple, Google or Spotify.

3L Nathanael Linton Named Law Student Representative to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees

Third-year law student Nathanael Linton was named as the 2023-2024 academic year law student representative to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees.  He participates, ex officio, on the Board Academic Affairs and Enrollment and the Student Experience Committees and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Linton is a member of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society’s trial and appellate divisions. He is also a research assistant to Professor Emeritus William C. Banks and the managing editor of the Journal of Global Rights and Organizations. Before coming to the College of Law, Linton served on the Board of Trustees at his undergraduate college, Pace University. 

Record-Breaking Law Alumni Weekend 2023: Honoring Excellence and Uniting Our Orange Community

The College of Law welcomed a record number of alumni and friends back to campus for Law Alumni Weekend 2023, joined with Orange Central for the first time this year. From family-friendly events in the Quad to stargazing in Holden Observatory, new opportunities were abundant in addition to the traditional State of the College Address from Dean Boise, Lunch with the Judiciary, and U.S. Supreme Court Preview 2023-2024.

Director of Alumni Relations Adrienne Lutz kicks off the 2023 Syracuse University College of Law Awards Ceremony in the Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom in Dineen Hall.
Director of Alumni Relations Adrienne Lutz kicks off the 2023 Syracuse University College of Law Awards Ceremony in the Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom in Dineen Hall.

The pinnacle of the weekend’s events, the inaugural College of Law Awards Celebration combined the college’s most prestigious awards into one night for the first time. More than 300 alumni, students, and friends came together for Friday evening’s program to recognize award recipients for their outstanding achievements and celebrate the Syracuse Law community for what makes it truly special.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees:

John Elmore L’84
J. Neil Huber L’68
Bernard Kossar ’53, L’55
Tiffany H. Lee G’97, L’97
The Hon. Theodore “Ted” Limpert L’88
Alexandra Ramirez Randazzo L’96
The Hon. Rodney Thompson G’93, L’93
Joanne Van Dyke L’87

John Elmore L’84 Video
J. Neil Huber L’68 Video
Bernard Kossar ’53, L’55 Video
Tiffany H. Lee L’97, G’97 Video
The Hon. Theodore “Ted” Limpert L’88 Video
Alexandra Ramirez Randazzo L’96 Video
The Hon. Rodney Thompson G’93, L’93 Video
Joanne Van Dyke L’87 Video
2023 Syracuse University College of Law Award Winner Videos. Click a video to watch the honoree’s story.

From the lively panel discussions and networking receptions to the spirited alumni tailgate and football game, Law Alumni Weekend was a celebration of the spirit of Syracuse Law and our powerful Orange alumni network.

Special thank you to sponsors: Hancock Estabrook, Bond Schoeneck & King, the NDNY Federal Court Bar Association, the Tully Center for Free Speech, and the Syracuse University Institute for the Study of the Judiciary, Politics, and the Media.

Joanne Van Dyke L’87 and her family with her Law Honors award
Joanne Van Dyke L’87 and her family with her Law Honors award.
Kathleen Turland L’95 reading remarks at the 2023 Syracuse University College of Law Awards
Kathleen Turland L’95 reading remarks at the 2023 Syracuse University College of Law Awards.
The audience watches as the 2023 Syracuse University College of Law Awards are presented.
The audience watches as the 2023 Syracuse University College of Law Awards are presented.
Polaroid photos on a table
Memories of a great evening.
People dancing on a dance floor
Current students tearing up the dance floor.
The Hon. Rodney Thompson G’93, L’93 accepts a Law Honors Award from Dean Craig M. Boise.
The Hon. Rodney Thompson G’93, L’93 accepts a Law Honors Award from Dean Craig M. Boise.
The Hon. Rodney Thompson G’93, L’93
Left to right: Lishayne King L’18, the Hon. Rodney Thompson G’93, L’93, Omar Mosqueda L’20, and Dominique Kelly-Potamis L’21, Thompson’s former clerks.
Dean Craig M. Boise addresses the crowd at the 2023 Syracuse University College of Law Awards.
Dean Craig M. Boise addresses the 2023 Syracuse University College of Law Awards crowd.
Alumni pose for a photo in the Dineen Hall atrium during the after-party.
Alumni and students pose for a photo in the Dineen Hall atrium during the after-party.
3L James Cameron III introduces the José Bahamonde-González L’92 Legacy Award.
3L James Cameron III introduces the José Bahamonde-González L’92 Legacy Award.
Dean Craig M. Boise presents the José Bahamonde-González L’92 Legacy Award to Alexandra Ramirez Randazzo L’96
Dean Craig M. Boise presents the José Bahamonde-González L’92 Legacy Award to Alexandra Ramirez Randazzo L’96.
Current students enjoying the after-party.
Current students enjoying the after-party.
Current students pose for photos after the celebration.
Current students pose for photos after the celebration.
Dean Craig M. Boise presents J. Neil Huber L’68 with a Law Honors Award.
Dean Craig M. Boise presents J. Neil Huber L’68 with a Law Honors Award.
J. Neil Huber L’68 poses with his family before the award ceremony.
J. Neil Huber L’68 poses with his family before the award ceremony.
Professor Maria Cudowska (left) chats with Professor Lauryn Gouldin (center) and Assistant Dean of International Programs Andrew Horsfall (right).
Professor Maria Cudowska (left) chats with Professor Lauryn Gouldin (center) and Assistant Dean of International Programs Andrew Horsfall L’10 (right).
Alums pose together during the after-party.
Leslie Halle and Bonnie Fisher L’73 pose together during the after-party.
More dancing during the after-party.
More dancing during the after-party.
3L James Cameron III and 3L Jasmine Geyer pose together before the award show starts.
3L James Cameron III and 3L Jasmine Geyer pose together before the award show starts.
Dean Craig M. Boise presents a Law Honors Award to The Hon. Theodore “Ted” Limpert L’88.
Dean Craig M. Boise presents a Law Honors Award to The Hon. Theodore “Ted” Limpert L’88.
Judges
The Hon. James Cecile L’91, the Hon. Rodney Thompson G’93, L’93, the Hon. Theodore “Ted” Limpert L’88, the Hon. Deborah Karalunas L’82, the Hon. Kate Rosenthal L’81, the Hon. Karen Uplinger, and the Hon. Julie Cecile L’91.
After party in the atrium in Dineen Hall.
After-party in the atrium of Dineen Hall.
Andrew Horsfall
Andrew Horsfall L’10 and Donghoo Sohn LL.M. ’13
3L Peony Teo introduces the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Legacy of Excellence Award.
3L Peony Teo introduces the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Legacy of Excellence Award.
Dean Craig M. Boise present the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Legacy of Excellence Award to Tiffany H. Lee L’97, G’97.
Dean Craig M. Boise presents the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Legacy of Excellence Award to Tiffany H. Lee L’97, G’97.
Current students network during the after-party.
Current students network during the after-party.
3L Jasmine Geyer introduces the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) William Herbert Johnson Legacy Award.
3L Jasmine Geyer introduces the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) William Herbert Johnson Legacy Award.
Craig M. Boise presents the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) William Herbert Johnson Legacy Award to John Elmore L’84.
Craig M. Boise presents the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) William Herbert Johnson Legacy Award to John Elmore L’84.
BLSA students and alumni with John Elmore L’84.
Black Law Student Association (BLSA) students and alumni with John Elmore L’84.
John Elmore L’84 and the Hon. Deborah Karalunas L’82 pose for a photo together after the award ceremony.
John Elmore L’84 and the Hon. Deborah Karalunas L’82 pose for a photo together after the award ceremony.
John Elmore L’84 and friends pose for a photo during the after-party.
Bill Gabor L’84, Gerald Taylor L’84, John Elmore L’84, and Peter M. Hobaica L’84.
Current students pose for photos after the ceremony.
Dean Craig M. Boise presents Bernie Kossar ’53, L’55 with the 2023 Dean's Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dean Craig M. Boise presents Bernie Kossar ’53, L’55, with the 2023 Dean’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Bernie Kossar ’53, L’55 and Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud pose for a photo after the ceremony.
Bernie Kossar ’53, L’55, and Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud pose for a photo after the ceremony.
Bernie Kossar ’53, L’55 and his family capture a moment together.
Bernie Kossar ’53, L’55 and his family capture a moment together.

All photos were taken by Amelia Beamish.

2Ls Nicholas Barrish and Nikolaus Merz Win the Mackenzie Hughes LLP Edmund H. Lewis Appellate Advocacy Competition

The team of 2Ls Nicholas Barrish and Nikolaus Merz prevailed over the team of 3L Christopher Beattie and 2L Katelin Koper in the final round of the Mackenzie Hughes LLP Edmund H. Lewis Appellate Advocacy Competition. Koper was selected Best Advocate and Beattie and Koper won Best Brief.

The final round was judged by the Hon. Frederick Scullin Jr. L’64, Senior U.S. District Judge Northern District of New York; the Hon. Andrew Baxter, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of New York; the Hon. Ramon Rivera L’94, Court of Claims Judge, New York State Unified Court System; John Gilsenan, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Northern District of New York; and Professor Todd Berger, Director of Advocacy Programs at the College of Law.

Sponsored by Syracuse law firm Mackenzie Hughes LLP, this competition is open to two-person teams consisting of second and third-year Syracuse Law students. The competition is named for the Hon. Edmund H. Lewis L’1909, a distinguished alumnus of Syracuse University College of Law, a partner at Mackenzie Hughes, and a Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. Each year, volunteer judges evaluate the teams’ written appellate briefs as well as oral argument performance through multiple rounds.

Overall, 10 teams of two students competed. Preliminary rounds were judged by Stephanie Hyde L’89, Nicole Macris L’18 Tom Taylor ’79, L’87, Neil Smith ’02, James Zino L’14, G’14, Laura Harshbarger L’97, Edwin (Pete) Frick L’13, Dean DiPilato, John Boyd II L’16, John Cirando, Judge Gerard Neri L’90, John Gilsenan, Judge Fred Scullin L’64, Judge Ramon Rivera L’94, and Judge Andrew Baxter.

David Katz L’17, John Boyd II L’16, and Professor Richard Risman graded the briefs.

The College of Law would like to thank all the judges and evaluators.

Judge Rivera, Professor Berger, Nikolaus Merz, Nicholas Barrish, Judge Scullin, Judge Baxter, John Gilsenan

Professor Lauryn Gouldin Discusses the Federal Gun Charges Filed Against Hunter Biden with the BBC

Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Lauryn Gouldin provided insight to the BBC into the gun charges filed against Hunter Biden.  The argument over the constitutionality of one of the charges – a ban on gun possession for drug users – rests on a Supreme Court ruling that expanded gun rights last year.

In the ruling, the conservative-leaning court said that firearms restrictions must be consistent with the “historical tradition of firearm regulation” in the U.S.

Gouldin noted that under that ruling, the Supreme Court would “likely” find the charges against Biden unconstitutional.

Professor Gregory Germain Discusses the Trump Fraud Trial on LiveNow from Fox

Professor Gregory Germain was interviewed live on LiveNow from Fox at the outset of the Trump business fraud trial. He discussed the background of the case, the pros and cons of Trump taking the witness stand, New York state cameras in the courtroom laws, and the possible penalties.

Germain said that the trial is about the six other criminal-based causes of action that have not been determined yet and if the court is going to order the disgorgement of gains. He says, “I don’t know how the court is going to calculate disgorgement of gains without showing some form of reliance and some form of causation. How do you determine how much from these loans and insurance policies did he save and how much was he unjustly enriched by using these financial representations that nobody relied on.”

Distinguished Visiting Lecturer David Cay Johnston Discusses the Trump Business Fraud Ruling with Anderson Cooper

A New York judge ruled that former President Trump and his oldest sons are liable for fraud after providing false financial statements for roughly a decade.

Distinguished Visiting Lecturer David Cay Johnston joined a panel of experts on Anderson Cooper 360. Johnston noted that “A key point made by the judge is that this is not about restitution, but disgorgement of ill-gotten gains.”

Professor Johnston speaks at the 8:45, 13:57, and 16:30 marks.

Professor Nina Kohn Co-authors “Biden’s nursing home staffing proposal is dangerously inadequate”

Professor Nina Kohn, along with Charlene Harrington, professor emeritus at the University of California San Francisco’s School of Nursing, and Lori Smetanka, executive director of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, have contributed the article “Biden’s nursing home staffing proposal is dangerously inadequate” in The Hill.

In the article, the authors outline dangerous gaps in the proposed nursing home staffing levels recently made by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). They note that “CMS has proposed that nursing homes only be required to provide three hours of staff time per resident per day. That’s far less than what many states with state-specific minimum staffing standards require. It’s only 73 percent of the 4.1 hours per day that a rigorous CMS study found is necessary to avoid neglect.” 

Professor Ghosh on New NY Invention Protection Law: “Won’t Stop Messy Lawsuits”

In speaking with Bloomberg Law for an article on the newly enacted New York State employee invention law, Professor Shubha Ghosh noted that “The litigation will continue and continue to be messy, and the statute gives the employees some backing, some support.”

The law empowering tech company employees to keep ownership of their side projects is poised for clarification by courts as they seek to balance intellectual property protection and an effort to draw workers to the state.